The Philippines will continue to implement the "blended learning" policy until more people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque affirmed President Duterte's stance against face-to-face classes for the meantime, recognizing the threat posed by the virus. Roque made the statement after Vice President Leni Robredo called on the government to declare a crisis in education.
"Talagang mahirap po ang buhay natin dahil pandemya pa, habang hindi tayo nakaka-face-to-face. At mukhang tama naman po ang desisyon ng Presidente na habang hindi pa tumataas ang hanay ng mga bakunadong mga kababayan natin ay blended learning po muna tayo (Our lives are really difficult. Due to the pandemic, we still cannot return to face-to-face classes. And it looks like President's decision was right that while we don't have an increasing number of vaccinated countrymen, we will stick with blended learning)," he said during a televised press briefing Monday, July 12.
Robredo earlier said a crisis in education should be declared so the needs of students and teachers affected by the pandemic could be swiftly addressed.
The vice president made the proposal after the World Bank study showed 80 percent of Filipino students were below the minimum proficiency levels.
The Palace earlier found the World Bank report as "very disturbing" and "alarming" but expressed confidence the education department can find ways to improve the quality of education in the country. The World Bank later issued an apology after Education Secretary Leonor Briones claimed the institution based its report on outdated global assessment.
On Robredo's plea for a crisis declaration, Roque admitted he was uncertain if there was a need for it. He said it was up to Briones to decide on the matter.
"Hindi ko po alam kung kinakailangan ng deklarasyon ng crisis. Pero ang malinaw po, iyong sinasabi ng World Bank na tila poor tayo sa ilang mga subjects ay mali ‘no. At sila po ay humingi na po ng patawad, at tinanggap naman po ang apology ng DepEd. (I don't know if there is a need for a declaration of crisis. But it is clear the World Bank's statement that we are poor in some projects was wrong. They asked for an apology and the DepEd has accepted it) so I do not know what she is referring to)," he said.
President Duterte previously wanted all Filipinos to be vaccinated against the coronavirus before considering the resumption of in-person classes. Duterte, concerned about the safety and health of students, said he could not gamble with the lives of people.
The country has shifted to alternative learning methods including online education after the in-person classes were prohibited last year due to the coronavirus threat.